Rio Ferdinand believes the daunting competition for attacking places at Manchester United generated by the £30.75m signing of Dimitar Berbatov last month has inspired Wayne Rooney to new levels of excellence, with England reaping the benefits of his improved form.

"Wayne is confident, playing well, and, being honest, one of the reasons I was happy that Berbatov signed for United was that I knew it would inspire other players in the team to step their game up another level," said the centre-half, who captained England against Belarus here on Wednesday as Rooney took his tally of international goals to five in three games.

"It's not just the forwards but the other players as well, because when a new player comes in that's what happens. Everyone wants to impress that player and show them why they are playing for Manchester United. Wazza has gone from strength to strength. I think they can be a great pairing, but what I'm getting at is Berbatov's arrival will help him become a better player and go to another level.

"Wayne scored 15 goals last season and provided 15 assists, and that was a great season. And yet he wants to keep improving. Some players go into their shells and can't handle that kind of competition for places - they can end up playing rubbish. But then you get others, like Wayne, who take on that battle head-first."

Rooney has been helped by Emile Heskey's re-emergence as a force on the bigger stage. The Wigan Athletic striker began this season apparently condemned to the international wilderness, yet he ends the year's last batch of competitive fixtures as a pivotal performer, an unlikely half-century of caps achieved and with optimistic talk that at club level he may once more grace the Champions League.

England's travelling support erupted after Rooney's first goal five minutes into the second period to serenade not the scorer but the rampaging forward whose bulldozing run down the left and well judged pass had set up the goal. Heskey used to endure catcalls from his country's followers on this stage; now he is fast re-establishing himself as a cult figure whose contribution is to be cherished.

At 30, and some nine years after his debut, he remains aware of how short-lived such revivals can prove. There had been a similar spate of appearances back in the national side under Fabio Capello's predecessor, Steve McClaren, before injury denied him a place in the infamous run-in to the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Yet, having belatedly convinced the Italian that he is worth a place in his squad, Heskey is enjoying his unexpected spell back in the limelight.

He was flung on at the interval against Andorra last month with England scoreless and the heckles rising among those present. He has not looked back. "I smile when I think about how things have gone and when I hear the fans chanting my name," he said. "I never gave up hope of reaching the 50 caps, but to be a part of this is great. I make runs and sometimes I get the ball, sometimes I don't. But if I can create the space for team-mates like Wayne, then great. It's a team game."

Heskey's value to a side has not gone unnoticed by other managers. His contract at Wigan expires next summer and, although he is settled in the north-west, he may be tempted to seek one last crack at European competition having competed in the Champions League with Liverpool. Tottenham, though propping up the Premier League, were keen to lure him to London during the last transfer window and Aston Villa may yet revive a long-standing interest in his services. And Liverpool themselves are also tempted.